14 days to a HAPPIER, HEALTHIER YOU – day #10

DAY 10

TAP INTO YOUR STRENGTHS

Sixty percent of happiness depends on your DNA and life circumstances, but what you think and do affect the other 40 percent—sweet news for your state of mind.

So take two weeks and these joy-inducing tips. You’ll be amazed at what one small tweak a day can do. The proof is in the positivity!

BLISS BOOSTER: Discover your dominant character strengths by taking a free, fun, 30- to 40-minute quiz at ViaMe.org. The test asks questions along the lines of whether you try to tease friends out of a bad mood, for example, to ID your best traits. Once you get the results, use a key strength in a new way each day this week. Creative? Pen a haiku—bet you haven’t done that since grade school. Highly spiritual? Read about Buddhism, or meditate.

PLEASURE PAYOFF: Enlisting your strengths in novel ways increases happiness for six months, according to research in the American Psychologist. It can be easy to lose touch with your core self – but if you consciously put your signature strengths to use on a day-to-day basis, you’ll live a life that feels more engaged and meaningful.